I provide right here questions arising out of your latest four-part seminar.
— What does capitalism do to the human soul?
— What does unchecked capitalism do to society itself? Do solely the wealthy survive? What about different species as nicely–have they got a proper to exist?
— Why do you’re feeling those that sit on the high of the pyramid want no restraints? (You name Greta Thunberg a candidate for antichrist as a result of she is in favor of “restraints” and that will require a “one world” effort.)
— Have you ever jettisoned the entire thought on the basis of democracy and Christianity concerning the “the Aristocracy” of each human individual born as a picture of God?
— Sure, democracy wants a number of work to scrub up its act, however do Silicon Valley billionaires really maintain the important thing to the longer term?
— You cite Winston Churchill, however Churchill made the purpose that “democracy is the worst of all types of authorities…aside from all of the others.” The place do you stand on Churchill’s remark?
— As a substitute of displacing democracy, why don’t you and your billionaire MAGA buddies as an alternative put your sources into serving to democracy turn into extra workable within the 21st century, once we face so many challenges collectively, resembling international warming, nuclear conflict, clear vitality, and poverty that really could be eradicated?
— Thomas Aquinas, whom you invoke, made it very clear that justice and the widespread good are the glue that retains society collectively. I didn’t see the phrase “justice” or “compassion” talked about even as soon as in your 4 lectures. (See Lk 6:36)
— You’re well-known for saying, “I’m non secular however not religious.” Does that imply you need the non secular construction and hierarchy sans its essence of gratitude and alter of coronary heart and consciousness within the path of compassion and the widespread good?
— Have you learnt concerning the 5 beasts Saint Hildegard of Bingen, physician of the church, painted symbolizing traits of the antichrist? The “fiery canine” symbolizing people who “chunk at their very own situation” and fail to burn for justice? The “reddish-brown lion” standing for “warlike males”? A “pale horse” standing for these placing luxurious residing forward of worthwhile acts? The “black pig” representing rulers who create unhappiness in self and others? The “wolf” who robs others?*
All are chewing on a black rope representing “the darkness that stretches out many injustices,” leading to chaos and dysfunction.
— What sort of faith are you and different Christian nationalists making an attempt to present beginning to? It appears to reflect nearly precisely the other of what Jesus lived and taught and died for— thus, the antichrist. There are occasions in your talks while you appear to be speaking about your self and your work of spying on others as work of the antichrist.
At occasions, I see in these talks a little bit boy craving to flee from unhealthy faith to genuine spirituality. Not in contrast to the wealthy younger man who got here to Jesus and requested learn how to be religious, however when informed he needed to change his methods, turned and walked away.
— Can a strong billionaire change his methods? Is redemption actually supplied to everybody?
Whenever you speak concerning the American and Roman Empires, I hear you imagining Silicon Valley’s aspirations to be a brand new empire in a post-democracy world run by and for billionaires. Is that your message?
Compassion appears to disturb seemingly very arduous and tremendous masculine males of MAGA. Is it too tender? Had been Jesus, Gandhi, MLK Jr, or Nelson Mandela tender? Or is insecure masculinity at work? (See the Appendix to my antichrist guide.)
You intend Invoice Gates as one other nominee for Antichrist. Is it as a result of he has referred to as for billionaires to present away their cash for good causes? And has referred to as out Musk for being the richest man on the planet, killing 1000’s of the poorest individuals of the world in Africa by killing USAID, and so on?
— Why are billionaires in Silicon Valley so invested in immortality initiatives as an alternative of initiatives that help our species to outlive?
— How a lot “fatalistic self-hatred” (Adrienne Wealthy’s time period) guidelines the billionaire MAGA class and will get projected onto others? Why not a little bit “love of self and neighbor” (together with neighbors apart from human) as an alternative?
— Why is a lot sadism constructed into MAGA actions and beliefs?
I repeat my provide of yesterday to dialogue on the archetype of the antichrist. And encourage you to learn up on the mystics—there may be one in you craving to emerge, I’m positive.
*Matthew Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, pp. 122-126
Banner Picture: One world and one environment: the skinny line of Earth’s environment and the setting solar are featured on this picture photographed by the crew of the Worldwide House Station whereas house shuttle Atlantis on the STS-129 mission was docked with the station. Picture by NASA; Wikimedia Commons.
Queries for Contemplation
How necessary do you suppose it’s {that a} chief so near the throne of the MAGA administration is saying concerning the antichrist? How would you deal with Mr. Thiel amid his curiosity and teachings of the antichrist?
Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen
Unique Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Trump & The MAGA Motion as Anti-Christ
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Reworking Evil in Soul & Society
Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Imaginative and prescient of Love and Motion by Matthew Fox, Skylar Wilson and Jen Listug:
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Consciousness with Social Justice
The Reinvention of Work: A New Imaginative and prescient of Livelihood For Our Time
